See main article: River-class torpedo-boat destroyer. Torrens was one of six s built for the RAN.[1] The destroyer had a displacement of 750 tons, was 250feet long overall and long between perpendiculars, and had a beam of 24feet.[1] Propulsion machinery consisted of three Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons turbines, which supplied to the ship's three propeller shafts.[2] Its maximum speed was, and maximum range was at .[3] The ship's company consisted of 5 officers and 68 sailors.[2]
The destroyer's main armament consisted of a BL 4-inch Mark VIII gun, and three QF 12-pounder 12 cwt guns.[1] This was supplemented by three single 18-inch torpedo tubes and three .303-inch machine guns.[1] Later in the ship's career, two depth charge throwers and four depth charge chutes were installed.[1]
Torrens was laid down by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company at Cockatoo Island, New South Wales on 25 January 1913.[1] [4] She was launched on 28 August 1915 by the wife of Lord Munro Ferguson, the Governor-General of Australia.[2] The destroyer was commissioned into the RAN on 3 July 1916, twelve days before construction completed.[2] The ship's name comes from the River Torrens in South Australia.[1]
Torrens and sister ship were first assigned to the British Far East Patrol.[2] From September 1916 to May 1917, Torrens operated throughout Maritime Southeast Asia.[2] In June, the destroyer docked at Singapore for a refit.[2] after which Torrens and the other five River class vessels sailed for the Mediterranean.[2] After escorting a convoy from Port Said to Malta, and refits at the island, Torrens was assigned to Brindisi as part of the anti-submarine patrol force.[2] The heavy but monotonous workload forced the destroyer to visit Malta in December for another refit.[2]
On the night of 22–23 April 1919, Torrens was one of six Allied ships patrolling the Adriatic.[2] A force of five Austrian destroyers attacked, seriously damaging the British destroyers and before retreating faster than the Allied ships could pursue.[5] Apart from a brief refit at Messina in September–October, Torrens remained in the region until the end of World War I.[6] Her wartime service was later recognised with the battle honour "Adriatic 1917–18".[7] [8] After returning to Australia in May 1919, Torrens was involved in routine duties.[6]
Torrens was paid off into reserve on 19 July 1920.[6] The destroyer was relocated to Flinders Naval Depot in July 1924, and although not recommissioned, was used for the training of naval reservists.[6] Torrens was later transferred to Port Adelaide, where she was again used for training until March 1925.[6] The ship returned to Sydney on 11 May, with occasional use for reservist training.[6]
During the general reduction in naval activity imposed by lack of finance during the Great Depression, it was decided to scrap Torrens and her five sister ships.[6] On 24 November 1930, after being stripped of useful materials, Torrens was towed outside Sydney Heads by the tug Heroic, and was used for gunnery target practice.[6] The destroyer withstood considerable shelling before being scuttled by a charge of gelignite.[6] The wreck lies off Sydney in position -33.8983°N 151.665°W.[9]